DAVIS, Calif. -
Senior Steven Patterson had two triples and three RBIs while junior center fielder Kevin Parker rapped out four hits, helping UC Davis battle back from an early deficit to post a 9-5 win over San Jose State in collegiate baseball action at Dobbins Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

The Aggies even their record at 8-8. The Spartans slip to 5-13 overall.

UC Davis scored all of its run in key rallies during the first, sixth and eighth innings. Patterson hit his triples in the first and eighth, the first of which scored Seth Batty and Adam Young to match San Jose State's two-run opener, and the latter of which helped crack a 5-5 tie. Barker's second hit ignited a three-run sixth that erased what had mounted into a 5-2 Spartan lead.

"Starting with that Pacific game [on March 7], the guys have been sticking to an approach," said Aggie head coach Matt Vaughn. "They have been buying in and now they are getting rewarded for it. Today, we were able to put up some crooked numbers, something we weren't able to do last weekend in the second game against San Jose. We keep track of `quality at-bats' and today we were 27 of 41, which is excellent."

Freshman Zach Stone fired 2.2 innings of shutout relief for his first collegiate win. He took the mound with a runner on second in the seventh inning, coaxing a pair of infield outs, then only allowed one Spartan runner in each of the eighth and ninth frames.

SJSU shortstop Alec De Watteville and right fielder Sheldon Daquioag each had three hits while four other Spartans pounded out two hits apiece, but the visitors ultimately stranded a total of 16 runners against the Aggies' six-man pitching committee.

The Spartans opened with a 2-0 start, thanks in large part to doubles by catcher Kyle Gallegos and first baseman Matt Carroll. UC Davis responded immediately with Patterson's two-run triple, but eventually fell behind when SJSU chalked up a run in each of the third, fourth and sixth innings.

The lead could have been even wider but for a spectacular defensive play by Batty to end the fifth. With De Watteville and second baseman Tyler Olivet on base, Gallegos slammed a deep fly to the gap in left center. Batty gave chase and hauled in an over-the-shoulder catch for the third out.

Trailing 5-2 into their sixth, the Aggies finally touched up SJSU starter Logan Handzlik, who had settled down to four scoreless innings after Patterson's initial heroics. Barker and first baseman Spencer Henderson singled to open the frame, then catcher Spencer Brann sent a hooking fly ball off the wall in left to bring in Barker. Henderson scored on a fielder's choice to cut the gap to one, then Brann came home for the equalizer when John Williams delivered a single to center.

UC Davis then put up four runs in the eighth to take the lead for good. Heptig took a pitch in the back to lead off the inning. Gallegos made a fine diving catch when Williams popped up a sacrifice attempt, and nearly doubled up Heptig at first. However, Batty and Young followed with singles while a throwing attempt to put out an advancing Young allowed Batt to advance another base. Patterson slammed his second triple to the gap in right center, then scored on a Nick Lynch sacrifice fly for the Aggies' ninth run.

Stone remained in the game for the ninth, freezing De Watteville and pinch hitter Mitch Ravizza on breaking balls to finish his scoreless relief outing.

UC Davis has now won four of its last five, including two of three against San Jose State during that stretch. The Aggies enjoyed 39 hits in the series with the Spartans. They host a four-game home series against New Mexico State, starting with Friday's 2:30 contest.